Boat Beacon

Boat Beacon was designed and developed by Pocket Mariner’s sea-faring CEO after a near miss at sea – the app provides an affordable and reliable AIS-based collision detection system for iPhone and iPad or Android smartphones and tablets. For the full background to Boat Beacon, read The Skipper’s Story – How Boat Beacon Came to Be

Boat Beacon is available now in the App Store for iPhone and iPad and in the Google Play Store for Android phones and tablets. We’re excited to offer exclusive support for the Apple Watch too – Boat Beacon now includes free extra functionality including AIS collision detection, man overboard alerts and navigation tools that run directly on the Apple Watch. Boat Beacon also works with Alexa

Features

Specifically designed for use on the water, uniquely providing Bearing, Range and Closest Point of Approach (CPA) calculations in addition to all the standard AIS information. Uses up to the second AIS feeds unlike the other AIS apps which can be a minute or even more behind real time. Transmits as well as receives AIS and the only app that continuously monitors CPA, notifying if potential collisions are detected even when the app is in the background.

Real time map view of your boat and boats near you via AIS.

Over the horizon collision avoidance and alarm using Closest Point of Approach (CPA)

CPA calculations and AIS position updates continously in background

Lets others see you on Boat Beacon and internet AIS systems like MarineTraffic.

Compass mode to sight ships on the map

Current Speed, Course and GPS location

Share your location and track with friends and family

Man Overboard tracking (iOS only at present)

Anchor Watch and Theft Alarms (iOS only at present)

Ship to Ship instant messaging – chat with other Boat Beacon boats. (iOS only at present)

With transmit enabled your boat will appear on other Boat Beacon devices. If you enable AIS sharing and have an MMSI number your boat will also appear on live AIS traffic sites and their associated mobile applications, eg:

Infra-red Night vision

Spot ships at night in the dark and in fog up to 3 NMaway with Boat Beacon’s support for the amazingly low priced FLIR ONE Infra-red camera. Read about our review of the FLIR ONEwith Practical Boat Ownerand how we could spot a MOB up to 50m away in pitch black here http://pocketmariner.com/boatbeaconflirone/ :-

iOS

Android

Other uses for Boat Beacon

We love hearing how our customers are using Boat Beacon – here are just a few examples of stories that we’ve heard…

Arm all the crews in a race with Boat Beacon and watch real time updates on their positions

Keep a watch on the other boats in your flotilla when sailing in a group.

To be seen on Internet AIS systems you must have a valid MMSI number for your boat. You can normally get an MMSI number for free. In the US you can obtain a free MMSI in minutes by visiting the USCG approved agent and using their online form. In the UK visit Ofcom MMSI

Coverage

Boat Beacon relies on a network of shore based AIS stations for the live ship data. Our coverage is global and amongst the best in the industry, typically showing 40,000 or more live ship movements at any one time and a database of over 150,000 ships world wide. Our coverage is continuously increasing and if you would like to help by adding coverage for your area please let us know. For good locations we will provide the equipment for free. There is more info about how to do this here – Cover your area.

Boat Beacon Boats around the World

Our map shows the positions of all the boats using Boat Beacon to show their positions. You can click on the dots to learn more about the boats.

Support:

Recommended Devices

We are pleased to recommend AIS devices from Companies that we have found useful at sea and inter-operate with Boat Beacon

easyAIS from weatherdock

Recommended Apps

We are pleased to recommend other apps that we have found useful while at sea – Boat Battery helps you monitor your 12 and 24 batteries. And our own Compass Eye gives you an AR Bearings Compass.

License and Disclaimer

NOT FOR NAVIGATIONThis program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. Boat Beacon should not be relied upon to determine precise locations, proximity, distance, or direction or make navigational decisions. The author assumes no liability for damages arising from use of this program.
AIS data is sourced from a variety of voluntary shore stations across the world and there is no guarantee of service or availability.
The accuracy of digital compass headings can be affected by magnetic or other environmental interference, including interference caused by proximity to the magnets contained in the iPhone earbuds. The compass may need to be calibrated from time to time. When the device displays the calibration alert, move the device in a figure 8 motion until the calibration screen disappears. See http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2767 for more information.

N.B. This is not an AIS VHF Transponder. Your boat will not show up on other Ship based VHF AIS systems (unless they are linked to a common Global AIS system).